Kolkata: Less than 48 hours before Birbhum in West Bengal goes to the polls, the Election Commission has cracked down on the Trinamool chief of the district.
"The movement and election-related activities of Anubrata Mandal should be kept under constant watch, videographed... by a team of central paramilitary forces under a local magistrate," an Election Commission notice said.
Mr Mandal has also been show caused by the Election Commission. He had to explain by 5 PM on Saturday, why he had said the following.
"No agent of opposition parties will be seen at polling stations on the day of poll... No one will be found in the road except confirmed voters of Trinamool on the day of polls."
"Gur batasha, a jaggery based sweet, will be distributed on 17 April," Mr Mandal is reported to have said, adding, "The color of gur batasha is blackish-red. Do you know blackish-red? The colour of dried blood?"
Mr Mandal is also quoted in the show cause notice as having verbally attacked several Left and Congress leaders.
On Thursday, when the Election Commission hinted at legal steps against Mr Mandal, Mamata Banerjee, known for her soft spot for Mr Mandal, whom she affectionately called Keshto, thundered at a public meeting, "Buddhadeb was not arrested for Nandigram. Now they want to arrest Keshto? Even with Keshto behind bars, no one can take Birbhum away from us."
The Election Commission had showcaused Ms Banerjee on Thursday. She had effectively said she didn't care.
There has been no official response from the Trinamool on Election Commission's crack down on Mr Mandal.
In Birbhum, Mr Mandal was quoted saying, "Let then follow me around. Campaigning is over. I will just go to my office and back."
On Thursday, the Election Commission also removed the Birbhum police chief from his post for lack of impartiality.
"The movement and election-related activities of Anubrata Mandal should be kept under constant watch, videographed... by a team of central paramilitary forces under a local magistrate," an Election Commission notice said.
Mr Mandal has also been show caused by the Election Commission. He had to explain by 5 PM on Saturday, why he had said the following.
"Gur batasha, a jaggery based sweet, will be distributed on 17 April," Mr Mandal is reported to have said, adding, "The color of gur batasha is blackish-red. Do you know blackish-red? The colour of dried blood?"
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On Thursday, when the Election Commission hinted at legal steps against Mr Mandal, Mamata Banerjee, known for her soft spot for Mr Mandal, whom she affectionately called Keshto, thundered at a public meeting, "Buddhadeb was not arrested for Nandigram. Now they want to arrest Keshto? Even with Keshto behind bars, no one can take Birbhum away from us."
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There has been no official response from the Trinamool on Election Commission's crack down on Mr Mandal.
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On Thursday, the Election Commission also removed the Birbhum police chief from his post for lack of impartiality.
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